243. Could You Be Related? Reunions, Divorces, Marriages, Bastardy!, Wills

RCHS Blog Post Number 243. 

Could You Be Related? 

Reunions, Divorces, Marriages, Bastardy!, Wills

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Winchester Class of 1910 Reunion

1947

     Mr. and Mrs. Clarence HELTZ graciously welcomed fourteen members of the Winchester Class of 1910 and their guests into their lovely country home for the first reunion of the class.

      The meeting was called to order by ringing the old school bell. Oscar PUCKETT, former teacher, led the singing of "America" and "In The Sweet Bye and Bye." Prayer was offered and roll call responses were "What I've Been Doing Since Graduation."

      Interesting letters were read from Lee INMAN, chain store manager of Rice Lake, Wis.; Mabel EISENHOUR-HINSHAW, wife of a missionary of Riberalta, Bolivia; Sidney SMALL, consulting engineer of Los Angeles, Calif.; Golva DOOHER-HAMILTON of Saint Davids, Pa.; Lesta CURRY, teacher in New York City and Dr. Lee L. DRIVER of Cleveland, Ohio. Helen ENGLE-HART of Indianapolis, Leona BRIGHT-ROSE of Muncie and Clara CLIMER-JOHNSON of Lynn sent greetings.

      Class members present were Clarence Heltz, Walter SIMMONS, Herman KEYS, Russell BALES, Lucile HAYNES-ABEL, Hazel CLIMER-MACY, May HOUK-WICKERSHAM, Ella KABEL-WILSON,, Eva CORTNER-DIGGS, Edna WASSON, Edna HIATT-MILLS, Zelma ADAMS, Ethel ROOSA-MACON, Iona HAWKINS-MOORE and Opha HITCHCOCK-LENKENSDOFER.

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Death of Little Garnet

1922

    The eleven-months-old daughter, Garnet, of Mr. and Mrs. Seth SAYER, colored, died at her home northwest of Winchester. Funeral services were held at the Cabin Creek church near Modoc by a minister from Dunkirk.

    (Notes from RCHS volunteer, Thursa Short: Research of Little Garnet revealed she is likely the daughter of Seth Thomas & Clara (Tate) Sawyer. Seth was a blacksmith who was noted on 1920 Census living in Monroe Township and owned his own shop and home. Her parents were noted to be 41 and 37, colored, a blacksmith and a housekeeper, living in Stoney Creek Township on Garnet's birth certificate. She was a female, single birth, legitimate birth, third in birth order, on April 14, 1921. On her death certificate, it was noted as Monroe Township, Garnet Rozelle Sawyer, colored female born on April 14, 1921, died on March 12, 1922 at 7am. She was attended to by by John Nixon, MD from March 9 to March 12, 1922 and cause of death was noted as Broncho Pneumonia. Her age was noted as 10 months, 28 days. Her mother provided the information for the death certificate. The undertaker was C. L. Thornburg, she was embalmed and she was buried at "Cabin Creek near (illegible)" on March 14, 1922.) Her marker can be found in the cemetery where her parents and sister are laid to rest: Scott Cemetery, also called African Methodist Cemetery about five miles south of Farmland on Indiana Highway 1. It appears as a small wooded area in a niche of the grounds commonly seen as the county landfill on the east side of the road, just south of Randolph County Road 500 South.)

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Thompson's Golden Wedding Anniversary

1934

    Mr. and Mrs. Lonzo THOMPSON will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, Feb. 4 at their home 3 miles north of Lynn. Two of their children are living, Mrs Viola ARVIN and Mrs. Clara REESE of Lynn and one grandchild, Alice Louise Arvin.

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Fishing the stream that inspired the Hoosier Poet

1940

    While working in the capacity as a mail clerk on the Big Four railroad in 1916, Charles RAYMERT, of Union City and Yours Truly (Gail FIELDER) had occasion on a hot July day to fish a small stream in Hancock county. Our luck along this line was nothing to brag about and meeting a farmer in a nearby field, we gave vent to our feelings as to the merits of the stream, to which he said: "Fish or no fish, you ought to consider it an honor to cast your lines in a stream made famous by James Whitcomb Riley when he wrote that poem--"Up and Down Old Brandywine."

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Citizens of Randolph County to Easthaven Asylum

1907

    There are at present six persons in Randolph county awaiting commitment to Easthaven asylum at Richmond. They are Cora C. PHILIPS, Elliott THORNBURG, C. A. PARSONS, Charles L. GINN, William DEMORY and Matilda KETRING.

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Civil War Soldiers Living in Randolph County

1913

    Confederate veterans living in Randolph county in 1913: R. H. HUTCHENS of Losantville, David E. REITENOUR of Winchester and Abraham KETTERMAN of Parker.

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Will of William C. Wood

1933

    The will of William C. WOOD, deceased, has been filed for probate in the Randolph County Circuit Court. $100 to the New Pittsburgh Cemetery Assn., the interest from which is to be used for the upkeep of his cemetery lot; $100 to a niece Laura GERSON; to the wife, Mary E. Wood, all the balance of the estate, real and personal, during her lifetime.

      After her death the real estate is bequeathed to Orlie PRATT; and all bonds, notes, mortgages, money and such personal property to Kenneth Pratt. This will was written March 1, 1929.

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Land for Morton Elementary School Purchased

1914

    The city school board has purchased the John BARTHOLOMEW and Mrs. H. T. SEMANS properties on North Residence street and will remove the dwelling houses and erect a modern school building (Morton) to replace the North Ward and Central buildings which have been condemned. The frontage comprises more than 200 front feet and in length runs to Union street with all of the creek bottom to Short street.

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Marriages: Chamness, Moore, Stevenson, Wickersham

August 1933

    Marriage licenses:  Charles Clifford CHAMNESS, Jr. 18, farmer of Lynn, Rural Route 3, and Martha La Vaughn MOORE, 17, housekeeper of Lynn.  James Henry STEVENSON, 28, farmer of Carlos and Frances Pauline WICKERSHAM, 29, teacher at Carlos.

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Bastardy Charge Against C. Daum

1922

    Charles DAUM, arrested on a bastardy charge two months ago, and who has languished in jail since that time, finally concluded the best way out of his trouble was to make good by marrying the girl, so he and Miss Minnie May ALEXANDER were married in the Clerk's office by Squire Coats.

Charles Daum, 1893-1947.   
Burial at Fountain Park Cemetery, Winchester, Indiana.
Photo taken November 2021. 

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Coats Log House of 1820 Torn Down

1894

    George PRICE is tearing down what is believed to be the oldest building in Randolph county. It is a round log house built by John COATS when he first settled here in 1820, a short distance from Winchester. In this house, which is only 18 x 20 feet, Mr. Coats and his wife raised 12 children to man and womanhood. These children were all married and settled so close to their parents that they could be in time for breakfast any morning they desired to do so until the Civil War broke out, since which time they have become scattered. Mr. Price is going to have a basswood log from the home sawn and he will make canes as momentos of this pioneer family and their historic residence.

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West River Township Schools Sold

1911

    Trustee Smith LEE of West River township sold the following schools; College Corner School #8 (ground and building) for $247. to C. R. FARQUAR; School #10, building only for $96. to Bales PUGH; Julian EDWARDS bought the wood house, but the ground was not sold. The Huntsville school and ground did not sell.

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Photographers of Ridgeville & Winchester Partnership

1904

    J. F. WENTZ, who has been a photographer at Ridgeville for the past sixteen years has purchased a half interest in the E. R. HIATT photograph gallery in Winchester. Patronage was so strong that Mr. Hiatt was compelled to take a partner to assist in getting out the work.

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Stoney Creek Township School Teacher

1914

    The schools of Stoney Creek twp. will begin on the 7th day of September, 1914 with the following teachers in charge; #3, Garver WRIGHT, principal, Melva HARRIS primary; #1, Leon STRAHAN; #4, Florence PEARSON; #6, Ancil FRENCH; #7, Jay HAMMERS; #8, Grace DUDLEY. The pupils of #5, which was abandoned for lack of pupils under the state law, will be taken care of in the other schools.

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Will of Sarah Jane Retter

1934

    The last will of Sarah Jane RETTER has been filed for probate in the Randolph circuit court. After payment of just debts, it first provides that one iron bed and bedding for same shall go to a grandson, Donald Retter, another iron bed and bedding for same is bequeathed to another grandson, Kenner Retter. To a granddaughter, Maude Retter, a white bed and bedding is left; while all the remaining beds in her home at Lynn is bequeathed to another granddaughter, Mabel MARQUIS. All remaining house goods, furniture, dishes, utensils and poultry at Lynn goes to the two granddaughters, to be divided by two disinterested women.

  To a son, Otho, is left one of two $100 United States bonds. All the residue of the estate is bequeathed to three sons, Otis, Arnold and William, to be divided equally.

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White River Township One Room School No. 7

1886

    School #7, White River Twp. Report.  30 pupils enrolled. General average in studies, 89 1/2. Not absent during the term, C. T. SNYDER, Omer Snyder, George MOORMAN, John and Lafe WOLFE. School closed 12th of March unexpectedly. L. W. GREENE, teacher.

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Marriages: Brown, Mock, Baker, Benson, Martz, Huffer, Hall, Chenoweth, Moodt, Zimmerman, Life

1922

    Marriage Licenses. 

    Harold Elroy BROWN, age 23, teacher, Montpelier, to Pearl May MOCK, age 20, student, Ridgeville.

    Charles Jennings MOCK, age 24, farmer, Ridgeville to Irene BAKER, age 23, housekeeper, Union City.

    Floyd Donald BENSON, age 22, farmer, Lynn to Anna Marie MARTZ, age 22, housekeeper, Winchester.

    Forrest Noble HUFFER, age 20, farmer, Farmland to Mardell Georgiana HALL, age 19, housekeeper, Parker.

    James Harvey CHENOWETH, age 21, farmer, Lynn to Eva Nancy MOODT, age 22, seamstress, Lynn.

    Forrest John ZIMMERMAN, age 24, farmer, Ridgeville to Mildred Ruth LIFE, age 21, housekeeper, Parker.

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Winchester Library Located On Southside Courthouse Square

1913

    The Winchester library is located in the two front rooms above the A. D. HINSHAW grocery in the W. E. MILLER building on the south side of the square.

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Horse Thief Association

1908

    The Spartanburg Detective Co. filed a petition last week before the county board of commissioners, requesting the appointment of a number of their members as constables and officers of the horse thief association. The petition reads as follows;  "The undersigned Spartanburg Detective Company hereby designates the following named members of said company to be appointed as constables as provided by the Statutes of 1907, of the State of Indiana; Willie WISE, Thomas DONAHUE, William HART, Albert JACKSON, Thomas STACK, George ARMSTRONG, James Jackson, John CRIST, Thomas MORGAN, Albert Morgan, Bert WIGGS, George COMER, John HOUGH, Sanford Crist, John BEVERLY and John C. BUNCH.

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Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

Read page 129-140 to read "Death Records And Cemetery History." Page 131article titled "Franklin Township Cemeteries: 1. Race Street" has a very brief description.

Read page 446 to read the family history of Joab Addington which was submitted by Joanne Moulton.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

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